A NORTH-EAST MP is confident that his proposal to ban smoking in cars when a child is present would eventually become law.

Stockton North MP Alex Cunningham, planned to present his Private Members Bill to the House of Commons tomorrow (Friday, February 1), however it is now set to be pushed back to a later date due to a lack of Parliamentary time.

The proposed bill has support from anti-smoking campaign groups such as the British Lung Foundation, Ash, and Smoke Free North East as well as a number of medical experts and Members of Parliament across all parties.

He said: “I am pleased that my Bill to outlaw smoking in cars when a child is present lives to fight another day. Though there is a good chance it might eventually fall, I do still intend to push on with it, as well as exploring other avenues – such as amending other legislation – to get a ban into law. I intend to continue raising the profile of the issue, and continue trying to persuade the Government to act.

“I am confident that we’ll achieve a ban eventually. Smoking in cars when a child is present is too damaging to health and too dangerous for children for us to give up. We have the support of the British Lung Foundation, Ash, and Smoke Free North East, three Ministers in the Department for Health, MPs and Lords across all parties, and huge majorities of those polled on the issue.

“I’d like to thank everyone who has contributed to the process and I look forward to continuing working on this critically important issue.”